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- lierre RALPH S. JENNINGS,`OF NEW YORK; N. `Y., ASSlGNOR TO HIMSEJF ANDNORMAN G. KELLOGG.

Specillcation forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,955. dated June 26,1-866.

To all whom it may concerm" Be it known that l, RALPH S. JENNINGS, ofthe city, county, and State ot' New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Metallic-Seal Envelopes; and l -do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which- Figures l and -2 show perspective views of thetwo parts which form the seal ot1 the envelope. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of one of my metallic-seal envelopes as ready for sale or use. Fig.4 shows a section of the two parts ot' the seal brought together as inthe act of scaling the envelope. Fig. 5 shows a similar section as Fig.4, the two parts being` riveted together upon the back and fly of theenvelope by around pointed key or instrument, as illustrated. Fig. 6 isthe metallic-seal envelope as it appears when sealed or rivetedtogether.

Similar letters of reference in the several iigures indicatecorresponding parts.

Attempts have been made to use metallic s eals for packages andenvelopes instead of mucilage, wafers, and wax, but as yet but littlesuccess has been experienced; but the necessity which prompted theseattempts still exists, because very little security from mucilage-sealenvelopes is warranted, it being a very easy matter to open suchenvelopes without detection after the seal has been steamed or otherwisemoistened.

To lessen the inconvenience and cost of metallic-seal envelopes is theobject oi' my invention, and to this end l malte with dies two metaldevices, such as are represented in Figs. l and 2, and lettered A Thedevice A has two or more sharp points, a a, projecting up at its rim orcircumference, and a tubular conic protuberance, b, at its center. Thisprotuberance is open at top and bottom, so that there is a passageentirely through the device A. The device B has two sharp point-s, c o,extending down at its circumference, and a circular hole cut through itatits center. Around this hole on top ofthe device B a depression, d, ismade, as represented. l use thin sheet metal which is sut'ticientlyductile to bend under a moderate pressure upon the points and theprotuberance above described.

The upper device, B, I ornament in any neat and chaste manneijand bothdevices may loe dipped or coated, so as to have the appearance of silveror gold, and thus present an attractive appearance.

The device A is attached to the back of the envelope by forcing itspoints up through the paper, and then clinehing these points on theouter surface ofthe said back. At the same time that the points areforced through the paper the tubular protuberancc is passed up through ahole which has been prepared in the paper` previously.l

The device B is attached to the lily or ap of the envelope by forcingits points down through the paper and clinching them on the undersurface of the ilap. V

The attachment of the devices A B may be made before the envelope-Ieperis pasted into the form of envelopes, or it might be done afterward.

When the attachment of the devices A B has been effected as abovedescribed, and the envelope-paper is cut and pasted into forni ot'envelopes, the trade will be provided with metallic-seal envelopes,which can be sealed almost as readily as the mucilage-seal envelopes,which are now so commonly used. The cost will be slightly enhanced 5 butthis is not to bc regarded when the question of security is involved.

To seal the metallic-seal envelopes it is only necessary to press theiiap down to its place, as this action will cause the device B toencircle the tubular protuberance oi' the device A and to stand downbelow the upper edge of the said protuberance. y This accomplished, theletter-writer takes a key with. rounded point and inserts said pointinto the tubular protuberance with a downward pressure, a slighttwisting movement being at the same time imparted to the key. Thisoperation causes the upper end of the protuberance to bend over into therecess or depression d in such a manner as to just till said recess andform a level surface on the surface of the inetallic seal. The envelopethus sealed cannot, without teaiing out the seal, be opened, and hencethe safety ot' the contents ot' the envelope may be relied upon duringits transmission through the mails.

I make the protuberanee b of conical forni, in order that it mayreadlypass through the round hole in the center of' the device B, and alsothat it shall be spread over into the recess or depression d in a moreperfect ina-nner.

The great advantage of my metallic seal is this: It can be applied tothe envelopes in their man ui'acture, and When the envelopes are boughtthey are selfsealing metallic-seal enl velopes in substantially the samesense as inuF cilage-euvelopes are selfsealing, pressure in both styles0f envelopes being;1 neeessar)7 to effect the end desired.

The letter-writer, when using' my envelopes, Willbe saved theunpleasantoperationof meistening the sealing substance with his monili,which is a matter of some consideration when RALPH S. JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

EDW. ScHAFEn, R. T. CAMPBELL.

